PuttheLinksTogetherinthePuzzlingLynk

Lynk. ($0.99) by Michael Le is a new puzzle game that features a unique line drawing mechanic. If you enjoyed games like Linelight and Splitter Critters, then you'll get a kick out of Lynk.

When I'm under stress (and there's been a lot of that for me lately), I like to escape from reality with video games. My go-to genre of games are typically puzzles, because they keep my mind busy and stimulated while also helping me relax after a long day. Though it feels like I've been through all of the puzzle games on the App Store, I'm always looking out for something new and refreshing. When I saw Lynk on the App Store, it looked distinctive enough that I knew I had to check it out for myself.

App Feels Like

In terms of visuals, Lynk is as barebones as it gets. It's super minimal with just basic lines and geometric shapes set against a black background. If you're into simple and clean designs, then Lynk should be appealing in terms of graphics. Everything is rendered in 2D, so there's nothing too fancy. However, despite the simplicity, there's mesmerizing particle effects that are fun to watch as you successfully solve the puzzles. Since everything's set against a black background, the vibrant colors provide nice contrast. Animations are smooth and fluid, so there was no lag on my iPhone 7. While the game does not have a background soundtrack, there are soothing sound effects as you draw and make the links. Even though the game's audio and visual design is fairly basic, it works out well for what it is.

Like other puzzle games, Lynk is level-based. Players must go through each stage one-by-one in chronological order. The game does not provide you with a tutorial or hints, so it's all up to the player to discover the rules and mechanics of Lynk on their own.

The goal is pretty straightforward: connect the blue circles together, while getting all of the other objects and avoiding obstacles in the process. Oh, and your line can't cross over itself, so you'll have to be careful! Fortunately, the game doesn't penalize you for messing up, so it's rather relaxing. Lynk evolves over the 130 levels it provides in the initial download, so you learn the objectives as you go.

Controls in Lynk are simple and intuitive. To connect the blue circles, just draw a line with your finger from one to the other. Things start off easy enough, but then you'll have walls and mazes to maneuver through, green squares to collect, and more. Eventually, you'll also get red circles, but the only way to connect them is to connect the blue ones first, as the red ones mimic the blue line. This is trickier than it seems, because walls and other obstacles stand in the way, but it's entirely possible to have multiple solutions to a puzzle.

A path drawing puzzle game with a variety of mechanics.

The Good

Lynk is an incredibly relaxing puzzle game with a fresh premise that's nice to see in a marketplace oversaturated with puzzles. The minimalistic design should appeal to those who don't like a lot of fancy and flashy graphics, and the sound effects are whimsical. Controls are intuitive and friendly enough for anyone to pick the game up and play. Even without handholding and guidance, figuring out how to do things in Lynk is not hard, so this is a great game for anyone.

The Bad

For the most part, Lynk is a fantastic little puzzle game for everyone. But if you prefer a challenge and want something that makes the game harder, such as a time limit or move restrictions, then you won't find it here. And if you aren't a big fan of minimal design, then Lynk may not be for you. But if you can put these aside, Lynk is rather enjoyable.

The verdict

As a fan of puzzles and someone who feels like there's nothing new or interesting on the market, Lynk is like a breath of fresh air. I love the simple and clean aesthetic, and the sounds are delightful. Even though I usually like at least a little guidance when starting a game, I found Lynk to be straightforward enough without losing the player, which is nice. The puzzles themselves are challenging but not frustrating, and sometimes even make you think outside the box to solve.